Charles L. Nicholson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1217-1218 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CHARLES L. NICHOLSON. 

	With the organization of the Norbeck-Nicholson Company at 
Redfield in September, 1901, Charles L. Nicholson became the secretary 
and treasurer and has since so continued, being thus actively engaged 
in the sinking of artesian wells throughout the northwest. He also has 
other important business connections and investments, being now 
president of the Interstate Surety Company, president of the Northville 
(S. D.) State Bank and president of the Redfield Town Lot Company. He 
possesses a spirit of enterprise and progress which has ever 
characterized this section of the country, a spirit with which he early 
became imbued, for he has been a resident of South Dakota from his 
early boyhood days, arriving here in the spring of 1883, when a lad of 
but nine years. 

	Mr. Nicholson was born in Chicago, Illinois, December 25, 1873, 
and is a son of B. P. and Matilda (Carlson) Nicholson, both of whom 
were natives of Sweden, but in early life came to the new world. During 
his residence in Chicago the father was for thirteen years book. keeper 
and manager for the W. T. B. Ricol Ice Company, doing business at the 
corner of Chicago and Western avenues. He was in Chicago at the time of 
the great fire, which occurred in October, 1871, and aided in carrying 
water to help extinguish the flames. His wife before her marriage, was 
also an employee of the Ricol Ice Company. They were married in 1870 
and in the spring of 1883 arrived with their family in South Dakota. 
Mr. Nicholson filed on a homestead in Blendon township, Davison county, 
of one hundred and sixty acres. This he developed and improved, 
converting it into one of the best farms in that locality, and as his 
financial resources increased he extended the boundaries of his place 
until it comprised four hundred acres, thus becoming one of the well-
to-do farmers of his part of the state. He and his wife now reside in 
Mount Vernon, South Dakota. They have reared five children and have 
lost two in infancy. Those who still survive are: Anna M., at home; 
Charles L.; Oscar W.,, vice president of the Norbeck-Nicholson Company; 
Eda L., living in Chicago; and George A., an artesian well contractor. 

	Charles L. Nicholson began his education in the public schools of 
Chicago and continued his studies in South Dakota following the removal 
of the family to this state. After leaving school he assisted his 
parents upon the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-two 
years, after which he entered into partnership with Peter Norbeck under 
the firm style of the Norbeck-Nicholson Company at Redfield. He had 
previously been engaged in a similar business for a year. When the firm 
was incorporated he was elected secretary and treasurer and has since 
acted in the dual capacity. In this connection he bends his energies to 
administrative direction and executive control and his efforts have 
been an important element in the substantial growth and development of 
the business, which is today one of the important industrial 
enterprises of the state. A force of three hundred workmen is employed 
in putting down artesian wells and their contracts call them to many 
sections of the northwest. The value of their work can scarcely be 
overestimated as an element in the substantial development of the 
country. Mr. Nicholson is also the president of the Interstate Surety 
Company and president of the Redfield Town Lot Company. He also figures 
in financial circles as president of the Northville State Bank. 

	Mr. Nicholson is recognized as a man of prominence and influence 
in political circles. He stands with the progressive element of the 
republican party and was a delegate to the national progressive 
convention held in Chicago in 1912. He was nominated as a state 
committeeman and has held some local offices, serving for four years as 
alderman of Redfield, during which time he exercised his official 
prerogatives in support of many measures which have been of direct 
benefit to the city. He has at all times stood fearlessly for w bat he 
believes to be right and has labored untiringly for public progress. 
For several years he was chairman of the No License League of Redfield 
and during the first few years of his activities in that connection the 
city and county voted to no longer license the liquor traffic, thus 
introducing a force for temperance which has proven to be a boon of 
untold value for the district. 

	In January, 1906, Ml. Nicholson was married, in Redfield, to Miss 
Laura D. Bastion, a daughter of August and Charlotte Bastion. Her 
father, a retired farmer, came to this state in all early day from 
Illinois. The family is of German lineage. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson 
were born four children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: 
Marlan W., five years of age; Clayton C., aged four; and Lorene E., 
three years of age. 

	Mr. Nicholson is prominent in fraternal circles. He is a 
Commandery Mason and he belongs to the Elks Lodge No. 1046, at 
Aberdeen, South Dakota. He likewise has membership with the Odd 
Fellows, the United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America, all at 
Redfield. He has been a close and discriminating student of the signs 
of the times and one can hardly over-estimate the importance and value 
of his labors in connection with the material development, the 
political activity and the civic progress of the city. He stands today 
among the more successful residents of South Dakota and this is due in 
no small degree to the fact that he has recognized and utilized 
opportunities which others have passed heedlessly by.